Bay Area crab fishermen return to work

HALF MOON BAY -- Fishermen will resume catching Dungeness crab after buyers agreed Tuesday to pay them $3 a pound for the popular crustacean.

The crab season in the San Francisco area stopped last week when a lull in demand caused some wholesale purchasers to drop their price to around $2.50. Buyers had initially agreed to a price of $3 a pound at the start of the season Nov. 15.

Duncan MacLean, a fisherman based at Pillar Point Harbor on the San Mateo County coast, said the regional fleet will resume pulling traps Wednesday morning.

"We're calling a fair start for San Francisco, Bodega Bay and us at 6 a.m.," MacLean said Tuesday afternoon.

The end of the price disputes means crab lovers can plan to have fresh local crab for their holiday meals.